Assessing Change Indicators in Activity, Equipment and Inventory for Automated Storage Facility – UA07-RRAD

This project used a checklist to identify personnel activity (receiving, picking, shipping), equipment activity (AGV and robotic stackers), and inventory freshness (age and value) for automated storage.

Sponsor:

Red River Army Depot

Research Team:

Earnest W. Fant

Universities Involved:

University of Arkansas

Start Date:

05/01/07

End Date:

05/31/08

Summary:

This research study is to investigate process improvement to increase the productivity of an automated storage facility to service customers by processing and shipping orders more effectively. This investigation shall require the development of a methodology using leading indicators to assess the present system and proposed changes to operations within automated storage facility.
This project’s goal is to investigate process improvement to increase the productivity of an automated storage facility to service customers by processing and shipping orders more effectively.

A facility plan is developed which integrates all elements (people, equipment, and space) that will impact the plan.

The method of research consists of the following steps:

1. Document present system.

2. Develop checklist to determine conditions indicating possible productivity improvement opportunities.

3. Apply audit checklist to determine condition that requires supervisor or manager attention, analytical study, and or capital equipment.

4. Determine collection of data that should be used to document any changes within system.

5. Arrange collected data into three areas of concern: activity, equipment and inventory.

6. Develop numerical descriptive indicators of change for each area of concern.

7. Review developed indicators with management, supervisors, and other interested personnel.

8. Develop time series charting that will depict indicators graphically for a specified time period.
*An approach to identifying possible productivity improvement opportunities using a material handling audit checklist of various conditions that could exist within an automated storage facility was used.

*A methodology similar to balanced score card of leading indicators to detect changes in personnel activity, equipment activity and inventory freshness was developed using time series charting.

*There is a need to continue development of time series charting of indicators until the logistics system for all assembly lines and automated warehousing can be described by monthly reviews of charts describing the trends in the vital movements or activities of personnel, inventory status or material handling equipment.